Flying Politician

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 45, 24 February 1936, Page 2

Flying Politician

YOUNG AUSTRALIAN v x ..MELBOUHNE, Feb'. 3. . No New Zealand member- of Parliament has yet conceived tho idea of using an aeroplane regularly to transport himself between his home and the scat, of Government, although possibly the time is not far distant when this modern conovenienee will be extensively utilised. -One member of the Federal Parliament, Mr J. Y. Fairbairn, who represents the Flinders seat in Victoria, fornierely held by Mr S. M. Bruce, is a keen aviator, and for several years has

used his own aeroplane between his home at Mount Elephant and Canberra. A few months ago he made a leisurely flight round Australia in the machine.

Mr Eairbairn has concluded, however, that his present machine is too slow-, so ho will proceed to England by Imperial Airways liner in May to inspect several aeroplanes under offer to him. If the one he selects is suitable for the purpose, he proposes to fly it back to Australia, probably toward the end of August. Mr Fairbairn is not a ‘ ‘ stunt ” aviator. ■ Thus,- he has no designs on tlio England-Australia record. He said to-day that he did not believe the making and breaking of records was of much value in the advancement of aviation, and he would not aim to reach Australia in less than two weeks.

A young man, still on the sunny side of 35, Mr Fairbairn was formerly in the state Parliament, but he accepted the United Australia Party nomination for the Federal seat of Flinders when Mr Bruce resigned to take up the position of Resident Minister and later High Commissioner in London.